Kelly Clarkson’s New Single Is the Most Stunning Studio Vocal of Her Career

If living well is the best revenge, Kelly Clarkson's new single is proof positive that she's on Cloud 9.

Clarkson, who ushered in a brand new pop-soul era with Meaning of Life, her eighth studio album, announced Friday (February 9) that "I Don't Think About You" — perhaps the most stunning studio vocal of her career — will serve as the second single. The track will follow bouncy lead single "Love So Soft," and in a Facebook video, Clarkson said she hoped the choice would connect with listeners who've been burned, but kept moving on.

"I think it's important that...even if you're having a hard time...to have that light at the end of the tunnel on these songs," she said. "And 'I Don't Think About You' is basically saying like 'Just so you know, I was wrecked a bit, and it did deter me maybe for a minute, but I always continued my path and I always continued to do what I loved and you didn't stop me. You didn't break me. You might've come close, but you didn't break me.' I think that that's really important, and I think that that happens a lot."

Clarkson also said the song — while written by Jessica Karpov and Andre and Sean Davidson — connects to her own life in a very significant way. Some have even speculated its cutting verses, which include "But honestly, I'd do it all again / Putting up with all the bulls---, it made me strong enough to do this," speak to her mercurial relationship with former boss Clive Davis and her previous RCA team.

"'I Don't Think About You' is the ballad that I totally could've written," she said. "I wanted a ballad that I could really sing, but I wanted it to be emotional and I wanted it to be an empowering song."

Listen to "I Don't Think About You" above, and share your thoughts in the comments.